Punching apparatus



Jam. W, 16 R. s. BRESCKA PUNCHING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan.5, 1952 FIG.

lA/VEA/TGR R. 5. BRESC/(A ATTORNEY Jam. 10, 11956 R. s. BRESCKA PUNCHINGAPPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 5, 1952 F/GJ M R5 WM 5 W5 RAim/var FIG. 5

Jan. 10, 1956 I R. s. BRESCKA PUNCHING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledJan. 5, 1952 [IUUU MMLLX United States Patent Ofiice PUNCHING APPARATUSRudolph S. Bresclta, Newark, N. J., assignor to Western ElectricCompany, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New YorkApplication January 5, 1952, Serial No. 265,079 6 Claims. (Cl. 16415)This invention relates to punching apparatus and more particularly toapparatus for punching portions from sheet metal articles.

In the telephone industry thin sheet metal blanks, to be used intranslators in toll offices for automatically routing telephone calls,have groups of spaced rectangular apertures throughout given areas ofthe blank and parallel tabs along one edge of the blank. To cause themetal blanks to perform the functions desired, it is necessary thatcertain of the rectangular apertures be enlarged and that certain of thetabs be removed. To accomplish this result, by the aid of commerciallyknown punches, would be extremely difiicult due to the need for accuratealignment of the selected rectangular aperture with a punch to enlargethe aperture so as to produce a substantially square aperture withstraight sides free of burrs. Furthermore, the accurate removal of thedesired tabs is essential and difficult to produce with the conventionaltypes of punches.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an apparatus foruse in combination with a templet similar in contour to the articlewhereby portions may be accurately punched from an article.

With this and other objects in view, the invention comprises anapparatus for punching portions from an article wherein a carriage for atemplet and the article may be moved to any preselected positionrelative to a locating element to accurately locate the article relativeto a punch and die which, when operated, will punch a portion from thearticle at a pre-determined location.

The templet in the present embodiment of the invention has groups ofapertures normally closed by partially perforated portions, any selectednumber of which may be removed manually to determine the particularrectangular apertures of the blank which are to be enlarged. Along oneedge of the templet are groups of partially perforated tabs, any numberof which may be removed to indicate the tabs of the blank or article tobe removed. There is a separate punch and die for each of the two seriesof operations, one for enlarging the rectangular apertures of the blankand the other to remove selected tabs from the edge thereof. Althoughthese operations are performed at different times, there is aninterlocking means to prevent operation of one punch during operation ofthe other.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdetailed description when considered in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is an isometric View of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus, portions thereofbeing shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary isometric view of the carriage with the templetbeneath the locating means;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional View of a part of the control means ofthe apparatus;

Fig. 6 is an isometric view of the interlocking means and its operatingmechanism; and

2,730,173 Patented Jan. 10, 1956 Fig. 7 is a top plan view of an articlewhich has been punched.

Referring now to the drawings, attention is first directed to Fig. 7which illustrates an article 10 formed of sheet metal and initiallyprovided with two groups of spaced rectangular apertures 11, two groupsof circular apertures 12 and two groups of tabs 14 along one edge of thearticle or blank. To condition blanks of this kind so that they may beused in the translator in toll oifices, pre-determined apertures 11 mustbe enlarged so that they are substantially square ip general contour, asindicated at 15, by the removal of portions from the blank producingedges which are free of burrs and irregularities. It is also necessaryto condition the blanks that certain of the tabs 14 be removed, asindicated at 16, and in this instance it is important that the completetab be removed leaving no irregular portions extending from the mainbody of the blank. I

The apparatus for accomplishing these results includes a table 29 havingparallel grooves 21 therein to receive fixed position guides 22 andmovable guides 23. The guides 22 and 23 have V-shaped inner grooves toreceive ball members to facilitate in the movement of the guide members23 relative to the table. A member 25 rectangular in general contour isfixed to the movable guides 23 and has longitudinally extendingV-grooves 26 in the sides thereof. A carriage 27 is supported on themember 25 and has downwardly extending portions 28 with V-grooves intheir inner surfaces to receive ball members 29 to assist in the freemovement of the carriage on the member 25. Spaced handles 30 may begripped by the operator to bring about movement of the carriage in anydirection made possible through its support on the member 25 and thesupport of the member on the guides 23.

The carriage 27 has a central member 32 with two groups of locatingapertures 33 corresponding in number to the rectangular apertures 11 ofthe article 10 and positioned in the same manner throughout the area ofthe member. The forward surface of the member 32 has locating aperturesor notches 34 corresponding in position and number to the tabs 14 of thearticle 10. The ends of the carriage 27 beyond the central member 32extend above the central member to provide locating shoulders for atemplet 36, Fig. 4. A locating pin 37, carried by the central member 32,is positioned to enter an aperture, not shown, of the templet 36 tocooperate with the locating edges 35 of the end members of the carriageto accurately locate the templet on the member.

The templet 36 is formed of a suitable material preferably a fibre boardwith groups of partially punched identifying members 38 corresponding innumber and position to the apertures 33 of the member 32. The members38, although being partially punched, normally close their aperturesmaking it possible for any of the apertures of the templet to be openedby the removal of the members 38 as indicated at 39. Furthermore,partially punched tabs or portions 40, along one edge of the templet 36,are positioned to register with tl e locating notches 34 of the centralmember and the removal of any of these portions will readily identifycertain of the notches 34.

A die 42, supported by the table 20 in alignment with a punch 43,operates to enlarge the apertures 11 of the article 10. The article 10will be supported by the table 20 above the die 42 with one edgepositioned in engagement with the central member 32 of the carriage withthe ends engaging guide arms 44 supported by the carriage 27.

The punch 43 is supported by a ram 46 which is movable vertically in anaperture of a housing 47 and provided with two sets of rack-like teeth48 and 49. The

housing .47 is mounted on the table and supports shafts 50 and 51 for agear segment 52 and a pinion 53, respectively. The pinion 53 isinterposed between the gear segment 52'and the rack 48 forming a drivingconnection therebetween. A lever arm 54 of the gear segment. 52 ispivotally connected at 55 to a pull-rod 56 which extends through aspring 57 which normally urges the rod upwardly to cause the drivingmeans for the ram to normally urge the ram 46 upwardly. The rod 56 isoperatively connected to a treadle 58 which, when moved downwardly, willmove the punch 43 through the article and into the die 42.

A locating element 60 is reciprocably movable in a vertical aperture inan arm 61 of the housing 47, the lower portion of the element having arounded leading end to enter any of the apertures 33 of the member 32 inadvance of the punch entering the material and the die to accuratelylocate the carriage so as to locate the desired aperture 11 relative tothe punch and die. The driving means for the locating element 60includes a small gear 62 inter-engaging the teeth 49 on the ram 46 to bedriven during movement of the ram. The gear 62 is mounted on one end ofa shaft 63 which has a larger gear 64 mounted on the other end thereofadjacent the locating element 60 and inter-engaging rack-like teeth 65of the element. This driving connection between the ram 46 and thelocating element 60, with the particular ratio of the gears 62 and 64brings about function of the locating element 60 in advance of thepunching operation. Furthermore, the punch 43 has a stepped contourwhereby the longer portion conforming to the rectangular aperture 11will enter the aperture prior to the removal of the additional portionof the article by the offset portion of the punch to enlarge theaperture to the contour shown at in Fig. 7.

The mechanism for removing selected tabs 14 includes a die 70 mounted inthe table in alignment with a punch 71 supported by a ram 72 which isnormally held in its upper position by spring means not shown, and movedthrough an operating cycle through the energization of a solenoid 73mounted on the housing 47. A control unit 75, Figs. 2, 3 and 5, for thepunch and die, for removing the tabs is disposed in an inoperativeposition during the various operating cycles of the punch 43. However,when those operating cycles are completed, the unit 75 may be moved intoposition by the operator pulling outwardly on a handle 76 to rock alever 77 and a gear 78 connected thereto. The gear 78 interengages teeth79 of the unit 75 to move the unit from its lower position shown in Fig.2 to its raised position shown in Fig. 5. When this is accomplished, itis important that the operating means for the punch 43 be renderedinoperative. To accomplish this result, a bifurcated latch 80 pivotallysupported at 81 and connected to the lever 77 through links 82, 83 and84 will move to straddle the rod 56 beneath a collar or adjustablypositioned nuts 86 on the rod to lock the rod against downward movement.This interconnecting means between the operating means for the punchesrenders each inefiective to operate its punch as long as the operatingmeans for the other punch is effective for operation.

Considering now the operation of the apparatus, let it be assumed thatthe article or blank shown in Fig. 7 is to be produced from a blankhaving all of the apertures 11 of the original size and contour andcomplete sets of tabs 14 along the forward edge thereof. The operatorfirst selects a templet 36 and removes the portions 38 from theapertures 39 corresponding to the particular apertures 11 of the article10 which are to be enlarged as shown at 15 in Fig. 7. Furthermore, theportions 40 corresponding to the tabs 14 of the article 10, which are tobe removed,as illustrated at 16 ;in Fig. 7, are removed from the templetidentifying the locating notches 34. The blank or article 10 is thenplaced onthe table in the proper position where it will be controlled bythe carriage between the arms 44 thereof. The templet 36 is then placedon the central member 32 and accurately located through the assistanceof the pin 37 and the shoulders of the end members of the carriage. Theremoved portions of the templet would readily indicate to the operatorof the apparatus thenumber of operations which are to be performed andthe locations to which the carriage is to be moved to carry out theseoperations.

Let it be presumed that the first operations will include enlarging theapertures 11. When this takes place, the unit 75 is in its loweredposition shown in Fig. 2 freeing the carriage for movement to bring theopen portions or apertures 39 of the templet in general alignment withthe locating element 60.

To assist the operator in accurately locating the openings 39 of thetemplet in alignment with the locating element 60, a lamp 88 positionedbeneath the arm 61 of the housing and having a reflector, not shown,positioned to direct rays of light toward the locating element and theadjacent portion of the templet 36. The locating element 60 will createa shadow 89 on the templet pointing to the aperture 39 or to a portionin direct alignment with the locating element. In this manner, throughthe assistance of the locating element and the shadow 89, the operatormay readily move the carriage in any desired direction to bring aboutperfect alignment of the locating element with the selected locatingaperture 33. As soon as this takes place, the operator may depress thetreadle 58 moving the operating mechanism for the punch 43 causing it toenter the selected aperture 11 and remove a portion of the articleadjacent the aperture. These punching operations are continued dependingupon the movement of openings 39 made in the templet 36 by the removalof the portions 38 when all of these punching operations have beencompleted. The operator moves the carriage back a distance sufficient toclear the unit 75 and through the actuation of the handle 76, the unitmay be raised into operating position at the same time locking theoperating mechanism for the ram 46 against movement.

The unit 75 includes a V-shaped locating element 91 positioned to enterany one of the locating notches 34 along the forward surface of themember 32 to cooperate therewith in accurately locating the carriagewith the work for the complete removal of a selected one of the tabs 14.The removed portions 40 of the templet indicate which notches should bebrought singly into engagement with the locating element to accomplishthis result. The unit 75 houses a micro-switch, the operating plunger 92of which is positioned to be engaged by the forward portion 28 of thecarriage, during movement of the carriage to move any of the notches 34into registration with the projection 91. The micro-switch 92 is in acircuit, not shown, with the solenoid 73 so that when the switch isclosed, the circuit will be closed to energize the solenoid moving thepunch 71 through an operating cycle to punch the corresponding tab 14from the article 10. This operation may be repeated depending upon thenumber of tabs 14 which are to be removed from the article.

When the twoseries of operations have been completed, the article may beremoved from the carriage and the templet also removed therefrom toprepare the apparatus for a second series of operations. It waspreviously implied that a new templet would be conditioned for eacharticle, but this is not necessarily the case in that a given number ofarticles may be produced through the use of the same templet and ifdesired, a series of templets previously conditioned may be kept instock and identified to produce various conditions or arrangements ofapertures and tabs in the articles.

It is to be understood that the above described arrangements, are simplyillustrative'of the application of the principles of the invention.Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled inthe art which will embody the principles of the invention and fallwithin the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for punching various portions from articles singly incombination with like templets similar in contour to the articles andhaving numerous accurately spaced normally closed identifying portionsany selected numbers of which may be opened to identify portions to bepunched from the articles singly, the apparatus comprising a support, adie carried by the support, a punch supported for reciprocation relativeto the die to cooperate therewith to punch aligned portions from thearticles singly, a member to support the templets singly havingapertures positioned for registration with all the identifying portionsof each templet, a selected number of the apertures being exposed by theopened identifying portions of each templet, a carriage for the membermounted for movement in various directions on the support relative tothe punch and die, means supported by the carriage to cause movement ofeach article with the carriage relative to the punch and die, and alocating element positioned for registration with the exposed aperturesof the member singly to cooperate therewith in positioning the carriageto accurately locate the portion to be punched from each article inalignment with the punch and die.

2. An apparatus for punching various portions from articles singly incombination with like templets similar in contour to the articles andhaving numerous accurately spaced normally closed identifying portionsany selected numbers of which may be opened to identify portions to bepunched from the articles singly, the apparatus comprising a support, adie carried by the support, a punch supported for reciprocation relativeto the die to cooperate therewith to punch aligned portions from thearticles singly, a member to support the templets singly havingapertures positioned for registration with all the identifying portionsof each templet, a selected number of the apertures being exposed by theopened identifying portions of each templet, a carriage for the membermounted for movement in various directions on the support relative tothe punch and die, means supported by the carriage to cause movement ofeach article with the carriage relative to the punch and die, and alocating element positioned for registration with the identifiedapertures with identifying portions of the templet.

3. An apparatus for punching various portions from articles singly, incombination with like templets similar in contour to the articles andhaving numerous accurately spaced normally closed identifying portionsany selected numbers of which may be opened to identify portions to bepunched from the articles singly, the apparatus comprising a support, adie carried by the support, a punch supported for reciprocation relativeto the die to cooperate therewith to punch aligned portions from thearticles singly, a member to support the templets singly havingapertures positioned for registration with all the identifying portionsof each templet, a selected number of the apertures being exposed byopened identifying portions of the templet, a carriage for the membermounted for movement in various directions on the support relative tothe punch and die, means supported by the carriage to cause movement ofeach article with the carriage relative to the punch and die, a normallyopen switch operated into closed position by the carriage when disposedin a given position relative thereto, electrically energizable meansunder the control of the switch to operate the punch, and a locatingelement positioned to enter the exposed apertures singly to cooperatetherewith in locating the carriage in the given position to accuratelylocate the portion to be punched from the article in alignment with thepunch and die prior to the operation of the punch by the closing of theswitch.

4. An apparatus for punching various portions from articles singly incombination with like templets similar in contour to the articles andhaving numerous accurately spaced normally closed identifying portionsany selected numbers of which may be opened to identify portions to bepunched from the articles singly, the apparatus comprising a support, adie carried by the support, a punch supported for reciprocation relativeto the die to cooperate therewith to punch aligned portions from thearticles singly, a member to support the templets singly havingapertures positioned for registration with all the identifying portionsof each templet, a selected number of the apertures being exposed byopened identifying portions of the templet, a carriage for the membermounted for movement in various directions on the support relative tothe punch and die, means supported by the carriage to cause movement ofeach article with the carriage relative to the punch and die, a normallyopen switch operated into closed position by the carriage when disposedin a given position relative thereto, electrically energizable meansunder the control of the switch to operate the punch, and a locatingelement positioned to enter the exposed apertures singly to cooperatetherewith in locating the carriage in the given position to accuratelylocate the portion to be punched from the article in alignment with thepunch and die prior to the operation of the punch by the closing of theswitch, and means to move the switch and locating element into and outof operative position relative to the carriage and locating member.

5. An apparatus for performing dilferent punching operations ondifferent portions of an article comprising spaced punches operable toperform the diiferent punching operations, separate means actuable tooperate each punch, interconnecting means actuable whereby only onepunch may be operated at one time, a locating member having groups ofapertures corresponding to portions to be punched from the article bythe punches, a carriage for the locating member and the article movablerelative to the punches, and locating elements positioned to enter anyof the apertures of their respective groups singly to locate theportions to be punched from the article in alignment with theirrespective punches.

6. An apparatus for performing different punching operations ondifferent portions of an article comprising spaced punches operable toperform the different punching operations, separate means actuable tooperate each punch, interconnecting means actuable whereby only onepunch may be operated at one time, a locating member having groups ofapertures corresponding to portions to be punched from the article bythe punches, a carriage for the locating member and the article movablerelative to the punches, locating elements positioned to enter any ofthe apertures of their respective groups singly to locate the portionsto be punched from the article in alignment with their respectivepunches, and means interconnecting the separate actuating means for thepunches actuable to render the punches operable only one at a time.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS318,049 Smith May 19, 1885 527,970 Griggs Oct. 23, 1894 599,560Hedgeland Feb. 22, 1898 627,256 Groebli June 20, 1899 805,724 HarterNov. 28, 1905 931,781 MacBeth et al. Aug. 24, 1909 1,747,240 Haupt Feb.18, 1930 1,818,836 Arnold Aug. 11, 1931 (Other references on followingpage) 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS .8 Lev Jan. 28, 1950 Helton July 11, 1950Foley Jan. 30, 1951 Okumura July 31, 1951 Hill et a1 Feb. 2, 1954'FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain July 2, 1923

